Bio

Niketa Calame was born on November 10, 1980 in Los Angeles, California. From the age of 4 she has known that her purpose was to entertain. Through Dance Niketa was introduced to the world of entertainment. Regina's School of Performing Arts is where Niketa received most of her initial dance training. It is through the performing school that Niketa started going on some of her first auditions. After landing her agent Ruth Hansen at Harry Gold/ Gold Marshak and Associates Her first major audition was for Bill Cosby's daughter in Ghost Dads where she interviewed in front of Syndi Portier. Niketa began booking commercials and videos for Universal and Hanna Barbera. Niketa's first Feature Film role was Albertina, Chris Rock's little sister in CB4 which qualified her for her Screen Actors Guild card in 1994(she has been a member ever since). She soon thereafter landed her biggest role to date as the voice of Young Nala in Disney's 32nd Animated Feature Film "The Lion King". Always wanting to give back to the community Niketa soon went on mini tours around elementary schools talking about being a child in the business and whatever other questions the young admirers would have.

Niketa took a break from the professional world for school. She attended Hamilton High School, Academy of Music from 1994 to 1998. It was there where she truly found her love "The Stage". Niketa performed in over 6 major musicals, drama productions and dance productions (where she shaped her choreography skills) as well as a few competitions with the concert choir. During high school Niketa was a recipient of the NAACP-Act-so Competition Bronze Medal and Who's Who Among American High School Students. Niketa was Vice-President of Top Teens of America, a member of a college bound program and a member of Young Black Scholars.

The University of California, Santa Cruz is where Niketa received her Bachelors of Arts in 2002. It was during her years at Santa Cruz where Niketa developed her political mind and activist involvement. While at Santa Cruz Niketa was co-chair of Black Sisters United, a member of African/Black Student Alliance, African American Theater Arts Troupe, Destination Higher Education, Campus Wide Elections, served as a tour guide for the Banana Slug Fair, Outreach representative for Take UCSC Home, Student Union Assembly representative, and served as an outreach coordinator for the Ethnic Student Organization Council through the Chancellors Undergraduate Internship Program. She was fortunate to study Theater in Exeter, England in the UK through the Junior Year Abroad Program. Niketa was able to participate in such projects in Exeter as Autobiography in Performance with Dee Heddon, Shakespearian Jig and Mask classes with Peter Tompson. Niketa was cast as Ellen in "Oklahoma" with the footlights society where she performed in the Northcotte Theater. Upon her return to the states Niketa inturned at BB Kings Blues Club at Universal City walk where she was allowed to produce her own show called "A Night of Soul Music" showcasing a few up and coming hip hop and funk/soul bands, the venue made over $3,000.00 that night. Niketa held a dollar raffle that night and raised $300.00 that she donated to The American Diabetes Association, a condition Niketa was diagnosed with in 1999(type one).

Niketa moved to New York City for grad school a place she always wanted to end up for the live performance environment. She received her Masters of Fine Arts from The Actors Studio Drama School at New School University. She was co-creator of The 2004 Black History Theater Production put on at the Tishman Auditorium where Inside The Actors Stuido on Bravo was taped. Niketa was able to work with Ron Leibman, Joe Ragno, Ellen Barkan, Robert Lavelle, Elizabeth Kemp, Dr. Christopher Roselli, Nova Thomas, Patrica Fletcher and Paul Rudd, to name a few, during her time at the actors studio. Her Thesis Performance that she co-conceptualized was accepted into the New York International Fringe Festival 2005. She is one of the creators of the theater company Under The Skin which won the Samual French Fesitval for an orginal production "Defacing Micheal Jackson" which was published the fall on 2005 with Niketa listed as one of the original cast members "Frenchy Marshall".

After a brief Illness in New York, Niketa moved back home to Los Angeles, California. Upon arrival she hit the audition scene right away and landed the role she originated "Martina" in Junk:A Rock Opera. First performed at The Steve Allen theater in Hollywood,CA and then picked up for an extention at The Lyric Theater in Los Angeles, Ca in 2007. She later went on to book roles in Indie films and some TV one being a part in episode 12 of Mad TV which she had a wonderful time doing comedy. Niketa auditioned for the Actors Studio west and was excepted to be a working finalist. Niketa attends Friday sessions at the Actors Studio where Martin Landau and Mark Rydell are the moderators. Junk: A Rock Opera just got back from New York City where they had a concert reading on May 12, 2009 at Urban Stages for a house full of investors and Broadway producers. Niketa had a wonderful time working on the films "Fallen Angel" in July and August 2009. Niketa originated the role of "Nick" in "The Bedroom Window" which premiered November 2009. Niketa is also apart of a performance choir "Selah Gospel Chior" which recently completed their second season in concert in Pasadena December 2008. Recently Niketa was cast a swing in the Los Angeles premiere of Women Of Brewster Place the musical opens at Celebration Theater April-June 2010

Currently Niketa is creative director at IV I II Studios a production company focused on Turning Moments into Motion Pictures through a documentary lenz. She is Project Ambassador and on the Speaker Beurau at The American Diabetes Association, a charity close to her heart. Niketa has recently been co-star on shows on CBS,FOX and her fav theater role as Squeak in The Color Purple which won an Ovation Award for best acting ensemble. NiketaCalameHarris Photography launced this year in early 2016.

Niketa is influenced by "performers who get lost in the work, and in the moment". Music, Dance, Singing and teaching children. This is her life long dream and she will continue to be creative in the arts till the lights dim on her stage.